On April 22, 2022, Virginia State University held the groundbreaking for the new Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons Building. It will be the largest building ever constructed on the VSU campus. The $120 million building will replace a demolished academic building and the campus gymnasium. As a strategic investment, the Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons will consolidate the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education into one complex.
The new building, which is expected to be completed by Summer 2024, will feature:
- 174,000+ sq ft
- 3 stories
- 110+ faculty offices
- 40 classrooms
- Blackbox theater
- Gymnasium
- Swimming pool
- Exhibition gallery
- Community spaces for student success
It will provide transformational academic experiences for the VSU community. It is conceived to be the hub of intellectual activity on the north side of campus, boasting shared campus spaces, high tech classrooms, faculty offices and other academic resources. It will be a destination for interdisciplinary collaboration and group study. It will provide academic and support spaces outlined in previous space needs assessments. It will also enhance organizational efficiency and promote collaborative efforts.
